MJF on Fans Getting “Up in Arms” Over AEW & WWE References on Each Other’s Shows After John Cena & Cody Rhodes Promo Segment on 3/31 WWE RAW Show

Monday’s WWE RAW show in London, England featured an in-ring promo segment involving John Cena and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. This promo segment was notable for Cena referencing AEW and AEW CEO Tony Khan during an insult to Rhodes and Rhodes responding with a reference to his time in AEW as well.

Cena stated “I make empires for billionaires. All you’ve ever done is steal money from their kids.”

“I make empires for billionaires.
All you’ve ever done is steal money from their kids.”

Such a fire closing line.
Cody Rhodes & John Cena finally giving us the back and forth promo we’ve wanted. They shootin #wweraw pic.twitter.com/CURXVdxQOa

— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) March 31, 2025

In a follow-up, Rhodes brought up how he got booed in the company he created in reference to the end of his run in AEW.

Following the segment, this led to a new round of online discourse including complaints by fans over WWE and AEW referencing each other during their shows on television and the hypocrisy of some WWE fans complaining about AEW referencing WWE on their shows.

MJF recently responded on Twitter over the recent round of discourse stating that if wrestling fans want to be treated like children, then they could go watch Elmo or just tell Vince McMahon to start a new wrestling promotion.

I truly don’t get why fans get up in arms when WWE mentions or references AEW.

Or when AEW mentions or references WWE.

If you want to be treated like children, watch Elmo.

Or better yet. Tell VKM to start a new promotion.

— Maxwell Jacob Friedman™️ (@The_MJF) March 31, 2025